Decision coming soon on Hilltop’s future in Saugus

Friday

Feb 21, 2014 at 8:00 AM

By Mike Gaffneymgaffney@wickedlocal.com

A decision is expected over the next several months about plans for the Hilltop Steak House property, according to an attorney representing the closed restaurant.Peter Rossetti Jr. informed the Board of Selectmen that parent company High Country Investor, Inc. has received "several promising offers" that look interesting for the Hilltop parcel on Route 1 South.Although there are no definitive plans at this point, Rossetti told board members a decision should be coming "very shortly.""We expect to see something happening on site in the summer," Rossetti said.Rossetti added that he couldn’t discuss specifics about the entities vying to take over the Hilltop property because negotiations are ongoing.Going forward, Rossetti said the intention is to work with the town’s Economic Development Committee. The Hilltop site has been a recurring agenda item at committee meetings since last October, when the legendary restaurant closed due to economic pressures amid a competitive commercial area.Ideas discussed at Economic Development Committee meetings have included creating an overlay district and possibly changing zoning to encourage a higher use of the land.The lights on the famous Hilltop neon cactus remain out and Rossetti acknowledged that the restaurant looks a little alone being all closed up. But he assured the selectmen that people are on the site daily to protect the asset and there have been no incidents of vandalism since security measures were put in place."Hopefully it will continue that way until the negotiations are complete," Rossetti remarked.Rossetti provided the status update after asking for a change of manager from the late Lenny DeRosa to Don Doward. Although the restaurant has closed, High Country Investor still possesses a liquor license and one of the requirements of renewal is that a manager of record be listed.Doward came to Hilltop in 1978 as a cook and held numerous responsibilities at the steakhouse over the years ranging from running the kitchen to overseeing the bar.The selectmen voted unanimously to approve the request for Doward to take over as manager of the premises.